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A short thread on what I hope might be timely for at least *someone* even it’s not for *everyone*: taking care of our mental health (1)
I can’t help but notice how many friends, colleagues and even strangers here on social media are dealing with acute symptoms of depression or anxiety (2)
Sometimes it’s stated outright. But more often it comes through in the subtext. I think it’s hard for people to know what’s “normal” or “shareable” (3)
I’m not sure myself. But hopefully it it’s normal enough to share this (4)
A few years ago I had what I can only describe as my first full-blown panic attack. (5)
I was, as I recall, presenting a case for the agency I was running at the time to win a “consultancy of the year” designation (6)
I started well enough. We had rehearsed every line. But at some point, I just couldn’t continue. I blanked. My heart was racing. I just sort of shorted out. (7)
I couldn’t finish. Luckily brilliant colleagues sensed a problem and stepped in. And the judges were kind. (8)
This was weird. I had given talks or made presentations to far larger audiences and on frankly far more urgent topics. Like to giant auditoriums and heads of state (9)
But for whatever reason, whatever accumulated worries and insecurities imagined (or real) personal shortcomings decided this was the moment to shut me down (10)
And it was impossible for me to pretend afterwards - even though there were no *real* consequences- that this wasn’t something to notice and acknowledge (11)
